Album repackages are common in K-pop, but it’s been four months since the original release of ENHYPEN’s latest album, making this revisit feel more like a brand new comeback. No Doubt continues the laidback vibe of its predecessor XO (Only If You Say Yes), upping the tempo a bit but refusing to break free of its light, early-2000’s influenced beat.
As with many HYBE efforts this year, No Doubt feels in line with the general vibe the agency is pursuing. It’s smooth and airy. The melodies are relatively flat and uneventful and the production has a sheen that glides over your ear without offering much texture. The best part of the track comes after each chorus when the instrumental takes a moment to shine. This segment strongly reminds me of Y2K-era R&B-pop, albeit the more reserved side of that era’s glossy sound. For the life of me, I can’t understand why no modern K-pop group wants to touch the slamming Cheiron Studios sound of Backstreet Boys and Nsync. Everyone’s pulling the most boring elements from 2000-2001 instead!
No Doubt isn’t boring, but it feels like a missed opportunity. The verses remind me of K-R&B in the vein of artists like Jay Park. I wish the producers hadn’t been so heavy-handed with vocal effects, as a song like this rises and falls on a sense of humanity. ENHYPEN’s performance is smoothed of all edges and often warped into an anonymous tone. The chorus has a satisfying bounce, with a melody that sounds like a very tame version of Ginuwine’s 90’s hit Pony. If only No Doubt harnessed synths as crunchy and addictive as that classic!
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
Grade: B-
it’s nice, but I think I might go back to bite me and brought t the heat back
7.75/10 for me (7, 8, 8, 8)
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I love the 2000s production. I don’t think the hooks quite match it though. I prefer Daydream more. and I need HYBE to wrap the 2-minute songs up already, I’m so sick of it.
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This year’s greige now with warm woods.
I think people forget that R&B has rhythm AND blues. Blues being both the music and the tensions bubbling just underneath the surface. Blues isn’t a mood, it is an expression of life. All these 2000’s throwback releases this year are just R&. No B.
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this new relaxed phase of Enhypen isn’t showing too much on me, but if they want to continue like this that’s fine with me. It’s better to have an average sound than a horrible sound… it’s a shame that my animation will be left behind
7.75 for now
far from it, why does JD1 keep changing his artistic name? How will I know he’s releasing something when he keeps changing his name stage?
https://youtu.be/ymsc-Y19MTk?si=iWhz-5ivSysTX12d
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Oh I forgot!
TIOT(티아이오티) also returned with a slow ballad song… I just don’t like ballads 🤷
https://youtu.be/RN8AQUY1cUI?si=i9SqVaCZFPGweKGv
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Yeah, I probably won’t review it because I have so little to say about ballads.
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Oh well thanks for this reminder!😅 So I guess now for today’s comebacks, TIOT takes the win for me lol. I mean i personally do like ballads, but I do wish this one was more dynamic and had a more compelling melody of course. But it feels very fleshed out, and the guys can certainly sing, loved the harmonies here, and a song is of decent length even!
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Meh, vibey, but not as strong as XO or Brought The Heat Back.
Straight 8 for me as well
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A pass for me unfortunately.. 😔
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i really enjoyed it!! i liked this better than brought the heat back & xo. I still have the same complaint that i’ve had for their previous releases; why can’t we have bridges anymore 😭😭 i’ll probably give this an 8.5 for now
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I enjoyed all three of these songs but for some reason, my brain likes No Doubt the best too!! I need a 3 min + song with a bridge though…. my biggest complaint with No Doubt is that it feels like it ends so abruptly 😦
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I don’t know, I would call it boring (don’t tell my Enhyphen stan friend!). It’s more of the type of vibe music that does nothing for me, I want some drama!
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Feeling like I’m in the minority that absolutely loves this song. It’s easily an 8.5 for me. Very vibey and chill, which I do crave sometimes. It feels really fitting for a repackage album title track.
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the best album
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I’ve been following Enhypen since their debut and I am a huge fan of their early discography. Unfortunately, this release suffers the same for me, as Sweet Venom. Not bad, but short and doesn’t try to do anything more than what a good song does (if that makes sense). I prefer this over Sweet Venom, but this might as well be their weakest song on this repackage as a whole. :(( I just wish we had something more than just a nice and smooth song.
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Trying to understand what was the purpose of releasing a repackage around a song like this. I don’t get it at all🤔
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Similar to XO this had the makings of a really good song but fails to live up to its own potential. As a title I prefer the former.
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The song is fine, though I’ve never been so disinterested in an Enhypen TT right after release. What I found grating was the vocal processing. I was surprised not to see it pointed out in the review or any of the comments since it’s kind of a leitmotiv with some HYBE groups in this blog (no offense, Nick, I usually agree with you on that). That issue mainly got better over time and ended up being something that comes and goes between CBs. And this time, there’s this very metallic, unnatural, and unnecessary vibration through most of the singing that truly undermines my enjoyment of the song. A clear example is the very first line by Heeseung: “Girl where you aAaAt?”. But it’s the same throughout the whole song.
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i didn’t realise how polarising enhypen’s discography was until no doubt. this is easily my favourite title track from them since blessed cursed
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the director said i want cravity groovy but more boring
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